Insert molding apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for making a molded article containing an insert includes an upper mold half and a lower mold half for mating with the upper mold half to provide a mold cavity therein. Either mold half can include a recess, an elevator opening in a lower portion of the recess, and an inwardly directed lip at an upper portion of the elevator opening. An elevator mechanism is provided which includes a lifter for supporting an insert to be secured to the article during a molding operation, and a lifting arrangement for raising and lowering the lifter through the elevator opening such that a peripheral edge of the insert supported on the lifter is clamped between the lifter and the lip when the lifting arrangement raises the lifter.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for insert molding, comprising: 
       an upper mold half;  
       a lower mold half for mating with said upper mold half to provide a molded part cavity therein;  
       at least one of said lower mold half and said upper mold half including:  
       an elevator opening having a peripheral inwardly directed lip located at a cavity side of said elevator opening; and  
       an elevator mechanism including:  
       a lifter for supporting an insert to be secured to a molded article during a molding operation, and  
       a lifting arrangement for raising and lowering said lifter through said elevator opening such that an entire peripheral edge of the insert supported on said lifter is clamped between said lifter and said lip when said lifting arrangement moves said lifter adjacent said inwardly directed lip.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lifting arrangement includes: 
       a base positioned outside a respective said mold half on a side opposite said molded part cavity; and  
       a cylinder mounted to said base and including a movable piston rod connected with said lifter for raising and lowering said lifter.  
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said base includes a recess for mounting said cylinder. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer removably connected to said respective mold half within said elevator opening, said retainer including a dam flush with and removable from an inner wall defining said elevator opening, and said retainer further including said inwardly extending lip connected to an end of said dam. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said retainer further includes an outwardly extending connector connected with an opposite end of said dam and removably secured to a surface of the respective mold half. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lifting arrangement includes: 
       a first slide plate having a first inclined cam surface, said lifter being connected to said first slide plate;  
       a second slide plate having a second inclined cam surface in contact with said first inclined cam surface; and  
       a moving arrangement for sliding said second slide plate relative to said first slide plate in order to raise and lower said first slide plate and said lifter.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , which is adapted for molding shoe insoles and wherein: 
       said lower mold half includes:  
       two lower mold cavities corresponding to left and right insoles to be molded;  
       one said elevator opening in a tower portion of each said lower mold cavity; and  
       one said inwardly directed lip at an upper portion of each said elevator opening;  
       said elevator mechanism includes two said lifters for supporting an insert in correspondence with each said lower mold cavity; and  
       said lifting arrangement raises and lowers said two lifters such that a peripheral edge of each insert supported on each said respective lifter is clamped between said lifter and the respective lip when said lifting arrangement raises said lifters.  
     
     
       8. An apparatus for insert molding, comprising: 
       an upper mold half;  
       a lower mold half for mating with said upper mold half to provide a molded part cavity therein;  
       at least one of said lower mold half and said upper mold half including:  
       an elevator opening;  
       an inwardly directed lip at a cavity side of said elevator opening; and  
       an elevator mechanism including:  
       a lifter for supporting an insert to be secured to a molded article during a molding operation;  
       a lifting arrangement for raising and lowering said lifter through said elevator opening such that a peripheral edge of the insert supported on said lifter is clamped between said lifter and said lip when said lifting arrangement moves said lifter adjacent said inwardly directed lip; and  
       a retainer removably connected to said respective mold half within said elevator opening, said retainer including a dam flush with and removable from an inner wall defining said elevator opening, and said retainer further including said inwardly extending lip connected to an end of said dam.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said retainer further includes an outwardly extending connector connected with an opposite end of said dam and removably secured to a surface of the respective mold half. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said lifting arrangement includes: 
       a first slide plate having a first inclined cam surface, said lifter being connected to said first slide plate;  
       a second slide plate having a second inclined cam surface in contact with said first inclined cam surface; and  
       a moving arrangement for sliding said second slide plate relative to said first slide plate in order to raise and lower said first slide plate and said lifter.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , which is adapted for molding shoe insoles and wherein: 
       said lower mold half includes:  
       two lower mold cavities corresponding to left and right insoles to be molded;  
       one said elevator opening in a lower portion of each said lower mold cavity; and  
       one said inwardly directed lip at an upper portion of each said elevator opening;  
       said elevator mechanism includes two said lifters for supporting an insert in correspondence with each said lower mold cavity; and  
       said lifting arrangement raises and lowers said two lifters such that a peripheral edge of each insert supported on each said respective lifter is clamped between said lifter and the respective lip when said lifting arrangement raises said lifters.